Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

It’s Saturday Night –

time for more Genealogy Fun!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it (cue the Mission Impossible music here) is to:

1) It’s National Women’s History Month, so I’m going to use today’s prompt from Lisa Alzo. What education did your mother receive? Your grandmothers? Great-grandmothers? Note any advanced degrees or special achievements.

My mother attended Kansas State Teachers College after graduating from Emporia High School. As a student, she met my dad and married him at the end of her junior year. While her formal education stopped while she raised a young family, her informal education began when she started working part time as a medical secretary. After the family’s move to Emporia, mom continued her work as a medical secretary at St. Mary’s Hospital. During this time, she completed requirements to become certified as an Accredited Record Technician. and was named the Director of the Medical Records department at St. Mary’s. At the same time, she was going back to college to complete her degree receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business from Emporia State University.

While my grandma Crawford (Winnie Letha Currey Crawford) only talked about her being in school when her mother died, I did find a newspaper article indicating that she received a diploma from Horace Mann School in 1916. I find this achievement extremely remarkable since Winnie was placed in a children’s home for a time after her mother’s death in 1913 when Winnie was 10.

While grandma Crawford rarely talked about her schooling, grandma Briles did. My grandmother, Pauline Edith Briles Mentzer, told me her diploma was for high school graduation. In reality, that diploma was for completing the Common School Course of Study in School District No. 9 in Coffey County, Kansas in 1913. Pauline did attend high school by going to Yates Center to live with her future sister-in-law, Lulu Cope. However, she is not mentioned in any of the lists of graduates for Yates Center. Since Pauline was married in 1915, she may not have actually graduated from high school.

According to the 1930 census, my great grandmother, Josie Hammond Crawford, did not attend school but could read and write.

My great grandmother, Winnie Hutchinson Currey, did not live long enough to be in the 1930 census. Since her family seems to have moved a lot, she may not have attended school.

Like Josie, my great grandmother, Francis Artlissa Ricketts Briles is recorded in the 1930 census as not attending school but able to read and write.

The same is true for Nettie Adell Wells Mentzer. She is recorded in the 1930 census as being able to read and write while not having attended school.

Since my great grandmothers were able to read and write, they were likely educated in the home. Even though they did not have a formal education, their daughters did attend school with some of them not only graduating from high school but going on to receive additional degrees. Esther Crawford Noll, daughter of Josie, completed her nursing degree and served as a nurse during World War II. Gladys Mentzer, daughter of Nellie, attended Kansas State Teachers College and obtained a lifetime teaching certificate.

Throwback Thursday

James Marshall Ricketts farmstead

Desmond Ricketts family: Anna Myers Ricketts, Hazel Ricketts, Charles Desmond Ricketts

Rachel Christy Ricketts, Artie Ricketts Briles, Ethel Briles, Glen Briles, Osmund Briles, James Marshall Ricketts

Ricketts Cousins

Descendants of John Lewis Ricketts

John Lewis Ricketts-2735
b: 22 November 1812, Fleming, Kentucky, United States
d: 23 December 1888, Clinton, Indiana, United States
+Orilda Matilda Reed-2736
b: 20 January 1828, Jennings, Indiana, United States
m: 3 December 1846, Clinton, Indiana, United States
d: 28 June 1900, Clinton, Indiana, United States

. . . . 2-James Marshall Ricketts-2733
        b: 28 November 1847, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 28 November 1920, Liberty Township, Woodson, Kansas, United States
. . . . +Rachel Elmeda Christy-2734
        b: 28 April 1845, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        m: 12 July 1866, Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 27 January 1927, Iola, Allen, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Frances Artlissa “Artie” Ricketts-2707
                b: 7 April 1868, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 28 April 1947, Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . +Edward Grant Briles-2065
                b: 18 July 1869, Coffey, Kansas, United States
                m: 19 February 1890, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                d: 23 July 1951, St. Mary’s Hospital, Emporia, Lyon, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Edward Osmond Briles-9795
                        b: 21 June 1891, Burlington, Coffey, Kansas, United States
                        d: 28 May 1956, Emporia, Lyon, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ethel Frances Briles-2708
                        b: 2 June 1893, Coffey, Kansas, United States
                        d: 15 August 1982, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Glen Briles-4508
                        b: 6 March 1895, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                        d: 30 June 1983, Hays, Ellis, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lulu Belle Briles-2067
                        b: 2 November 1899, Coffey, Kansas, United States
                        d: 8 October 1987, Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Hulda May Ricketts-2748
                b: 24 April 1870, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 29 October 1958, Iola, Allen, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . +Albert James Cokeley-5406
                b: 7 February 1868, Iowa, United States
                m: about 1892
                d: 19 June 1935, Iola, Allen, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Annabelle Ricketts-2952
                b: 9 November 1871, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 26 July 1951, Oakland, Oakland, Alameda, California, United States
. . . . . . . . +Walter John Howell-2754
                b: 8 March 1873, Arkansas, United States
                m: 6 September 1893, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                d: 18 April 1952, Alameda, California, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Roy Howell-7620
                        b: 14 December 1894, Crandall, Coffey, Kansas, United States
                        d: 20 February 1964, Alameda, California, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Daisy Pearl Ricketts-2751
                b: 29 July 1873, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 19 September 1930, Yates Center, Woodson, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . +Grant Israel-2755
                b: 28 June 1872
                m: 15 April 1894, Coffey, Kansas, United States
                d: 30 January 1950
. . . . . . . . 3-Manford Milton Ebesnor Ricketts-2749
                b: 17 March 1875, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 25 May 1949, SBA Hospital, Topeka, Shawnee, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . +Lulu Beam-2836
                b: 27 February 1878
                m: 10 October 1902, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                d: 17 August 1931, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Charles Desmond Ricketts-2750
                b: 17 June 1877, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 8 July 1938, Chanute, Neosho, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . +Anna Bell Myers-2757
                b: 1 October 1885, Kansas, United States
                m: 2 February 1904, Coffey, Kansas, United States
                d: 8 December 1977, Lyons, Rice, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Hazel Irene Ricketts-2758
                        b: 25 September 1905, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                        d: 13 November 1995, Sacramento, California, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Roscoe Esmond Ricketts-2759
                        b: 12 October 1910, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                        d: 17 June 1984, Halstead Hospital, Halstead, Harvey, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-James Max Ricketts-2760
                        b: 18 June 1919, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                        d: 20 September 1997, Illinois, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Jennie Lucille Ricketts-2761
                        b: 25 September 1923, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                        d: 10 December 2010, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Minnie Ricketts-2753
                b: 7 October 1880, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                d: 31 October 1881, Woodson, Kansas, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Dora Ricketts-2752
                b: 7 October 1880, Woodson, Kansas, United States
                d: 31 January 1881, Woodson, Kansas, United States

. . . . 2-Priscilla Jane Ricketts-2732
        b: 10 October 1849, Rush, Indiana, United States
        d: 1 October 1928, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . +John Louks-2756
        b: 17 February 1851, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        m: 5 March 1874, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 3 February 1920, Oak Hill Cemetery, Kirklin Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Flora Bell Louks-2953
                b: 2 April 1875, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 18 February 1970, Wells, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Claude Eldon Potter-3102
                b: 20 November 1870, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                m: 8 October 1891, Kirklin, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 10 January 1952, Wells, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Alva Potter-3103
                        b: 9 May 1893, Wells, Indiana, United States
                        d: 9 March 1951, Wells, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Nora Ann Louks-2954
                b: 12 April 1877, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 17 November 1959, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Ulysses Edward Bogan-3105
                b: 24 October 1868, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                m: 20 November 1896, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 10 October 1921, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Opal Bogan-3106
                        b: 14 February 1898, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 12 January 1986, Sheridan, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Cosy Ethel Bogan-3107
                        b: 16 October 1900, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 6 December 1990, Lebanon, Boone, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Mary E. Bogan-3108
                        b: 18 September 1903, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 10 May 1970, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-John W. Bogan-3109
                        b: 22 December 1905, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 27 January 1978, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Wilma Jean Bogan-3110
                        b: 22 September 1907, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 22 January 1986, Clearwater, Pinellas, Florida, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Juanita  Bogan-3111
                        b: 18 October 1909, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 25 June 1989, North Carolina, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Robert Ulysses Bogan-3112
                        b: 8 November 1911, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 24 December 1994, Boone, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Lloyd Ellsworth Bogan-3113
                        b: 23 January 1915, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 9 February 1991, Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Jean L. Louks-2955
                b: 18 November 1881, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 12 January 1963, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Clinton E. Wickard-3120
                m: 28 June 1906, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 11 May 1961, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-India Faye Louks-2956
                b: 8 February 1890, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 28 October 1979, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Vern Vandervort-3121
                b: 19 November 1887, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                m: 5 June 1907, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 18 June 1975, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Mildred Vandervort-3122
                        b: 19 November 1907, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 1 April 1989, Idaho, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ruth Vandervort-3123
                        b: 14 July 1913, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 14 May 1999, Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . +Zacharia Merrill-3101
        m: 8 September 1867

. . . . 2-Mary Ann (Mollie) Ricketts-2731
        b: 7 October 1851, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 15 July 1933, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . +James Perry Bond-2957
        b: 7 October 1852
        m: 15 September 1872, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 20 July 1933, Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Arilda Louise Bond-9381
                b: 24 January 1874, Indiana, United States
                d: 14 April 1951, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Frank McKibban-15728
                m: 3 April 1934, Tippecanoe, Indiana, United States
                d: 1944
. . . . . . . . +Alva F. Wile-9382
                b: about 1875, Indiana, United States
                m: before 1930
. . . . . . . . 3-Harry Bert Bond-9384
                b: 28 September 1881, Indiana, United States
                d: 19 August 1955, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Conza Beryl Isgrigg-20660
                b: March 1885, Indiana, United States
                m: October 1903, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 20 October 1971
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Mary H. Bond-20662
                        b: 11 July 1904, Kirklin, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 6 November 1989
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-James Eldon Bond-20661
                        b: 6 October 1906, Indiana
                        d: 7 October 2003, Tipton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Vernon Bond-9383
                b: 20 November 1893, Indiana, United States
                d: 8 March 1962, Tucson, Pima, Arizona, United States
. . . . . . . . +Amil A. Maish-20664
                b: 4 May 1894, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 13 December 1986, Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Robert H. Bond-20668
                        b: 28 November 1915, Kirklin, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 13 May 1917, Kirlkin, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Ruth Winifred Bond-20667
                        b: 13 June 1918, Kirklin Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 8 October 2005, Louisa, Kentucky, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Wayne Maish Bond-20665
                        b: 15 October 1919, Kirklin Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 21 May 1966, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Patricia Ann Bond-20666
                        b: 6 January 1928, Kirklin Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 26 February 2002, Arizona, United States

. . . . 2-William Lewis Ricketts-2730
        b: 18 April 1855, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 3 April 1938, Sugar Creek Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . +Mary Jane Giles-2831
        b: 24 December 1852, Tipton, Tipton, Indiana, United States
        m: 11 September 1880
        d: 20 August 1912, Sugar Creek Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Marion Frank Ricketts-3000
                b: 19 April 1881, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 22 November 1952, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Gertrude Wilmet Clidence-3004
                b: 7 April 1880, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                m: 4 January 1900, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 11 September 1952, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Myrtle Marie Ricketts-3005
                        b: 15 April 1900, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 10 July 1992, Lafayette, Tippecanoe, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Mable Ina Ricketts-3006
                        b: 23 February 1902, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 24 January 1969, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Dorothy Dean Ricketts-3007
                        b: 30 May 1904, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 4 April 1911, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Frank Dale Ricketts-3008
                        b: 4 November 1906, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 21 August 1960, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Helen Louise Ricketts-3009
                        b: 10 June 1909, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 28 November 1947, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Donald Clair Ricketts-3010
                        b: 29 October 1911, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 10 September 1968, Kokomo, Howard, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Laura Belle Ricketts-2958
                b: 13 March 1884, Sugar Creek Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 25 November 1976, Noblesville, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Alva Spencer Ogle-3041
                b: 12 July 1881, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
                m: 15 August 1908, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 15 August 1953, Boone, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-George Eugene Ogle-3042
                        b: 10 July 1909, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 4 September 2001, Sheridan, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Joseph Alva Ogle-3043
                        b: 17 April 1916, Sheridan, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 26 February 2003
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Mary Jane Ogle-3044
                        b: 25 May 1919, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 21 October 1970, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-John Bethel Ricketts-2959
                b: 7 July 1889, Sugar Creek Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 30 August 1973, Sheridan, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Shirley Della Goodknight-2999
                b: 20 May 1891, Tipton, Tipton, Indiana, United States
                m: 3 March 1915, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
                d: 29 April 1978, Noblesville, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Marianna Ruth Ricketts-3002
                        b: 5 April 1918, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 20 January 2003
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-John Lewis Ricketts-3003
                        b: 30 May 1927, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 12 April 2020, Denham Springs, Livingston, Louisiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-William Fred Ricketts-2960
                b: 2 June 1893, Sugar Creek Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 24 February 1980, Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama, United States
. . . . . . . . +Jennette Taylor Jarrell-3051
                b: 7 August 1893, Washington, D. C.
                m: 20 October 1920, Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 27 April 1958, Birmingham, Jefferson, Alabama, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Anita Mary Ricketts-3052
                        b: 2 September 1921, Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 26 December 2006
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-William Fred Ricketts Jr.-3053
                        b: 7 July 1926, Ft.Sanders Hospital, Knoxville, Knox, Tennessee, United States
                        d: 28 January 2006
. . . . . . . . 3-Walter Robert Ricketts-2961
                b: 22 October 1898, Sugar Creek Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 4 September 1970, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Mabel Marie Dick-3029
                b: 3 May 1900, Tipton, Tipton, Indiana, United States
                m: 2 October 1919, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 23 October 1965, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Phyllis Jean Ricketts-3030
                        b: 2 April 1927, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 19 September 1994, Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . +Eliza Ellen Dennis-3222
        b: 30 October 1861, Highland, Highland, Ohio, United States
        m: 9 October 1913

. . . . 2-John Edward Ricketts-2729
        b: 17 July 1857, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 30 September 1930, Tipton, Tipton County, Indiana
. . . . +Ella Tudor-2832
        b: 18 November 1871, Washington C.H., Fayette County, Ohio
        m: 9 April 1890
        d: 17 May 1966, Michigantown, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Jason G. Ricketts-2962
                b: 1 September 1893, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 13 August 1966, Veterans Hospital, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Ruth G Lindley-20616
                b: May 1891, Indiana, United States
                m: 15 June 1915, Tipton, Indiana, United States
                d:
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Helen Virginia Ricketts-20618
                        b: 13 November 1917, Tipton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 23 July 1988, Anderson, Madison, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Betty Jean Ricketts-20620
                        b: 8 April 1920, TPrairie Township, Tipton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 27 March 2012
. . . . . . . . +Dorothy Redman-20617
                m:

. . . . 2-Nathaniel Ricketts-2740
        b: 27 November 1859, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 5 July 1862, Clinton, Indiana, United States

. . . . 2-Joseph Harvey Ricketts-2741
        b: 23 October 1861, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 8 February 1902, Frankfort, Clinton, Indiana, United States

. . . . 2-Clemuel W. Ricketts-2742
        b: 30 June 1863, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 11 February 1950, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . +Ella Cooper-2830
        m: 14 February 1884, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Daisy Ricketts-9377
                b: 28 May 1885, Indiana, United States
                d: 10 December 1965, Sheridan Rest Home, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Harry Kuhlman-20608
                b: 1866, Indiana, United States
                m: 28 November 1901, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d:
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Herbert Paul Kuhlman-20609
                        b: 4 July 1911, Kirklin, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                        d: 3 October 1964, Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Harry Kuhlman-20608
                b: 1866, Indiana, United States
                d:

. . . . 2-Sarah Elizabeth (Bessie) Ricketts-2743
        b: 7 July 1865, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 9 June 1940, Wagoner, Wagoner, Oklahoma, United States
. . . . +Manford E. Kinnan-2829
        b: about July 1860, Illinois, United States
        m: 3 October 1888, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 12 March 1946, Wagoner, Wagoner, Oklahoma, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-William Joseph Kinnan-2963
                b: 30 December 1889, Hastings, Adams, Nebraska, United States
                d: 9 June 1979, Dardanelle, Yell, Arkansas, United States
. . . . . . . . +Bessie Chowning-20598
                b: 1893
                m: 20 June 1915, Nowata, Oklahoma, United States
                d: 1976
. . . . . . . . 3-Manford Frank Kinnan-2964
                b: 26 July 1891, Lincoln, Lancaster, Nebraska, United States
                d: 20 June 1976, Los Angeles, California, United States
. . . . . . . . +Mariam A Peet-15690
                m: 15 September 1914, Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Dorothy J Kinnan-15687
                        b: 1919
                        d: 2008
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Leon Frank Kinnan-15691
                        b: 10 January 1918, Muskogee, Oklahoma, United States
                        d: 16 February 2004, Killeen, Texas
. . . . . . . . 3-Charles R. Kinnan-2965
                b: 18 August 1892, Nebraska, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Helen B. Kinnan-2966
                b: 29 April 1894, Lincoln, Lancaster, Nebraska, United States
                d: 2 January 1978, Kerrville, Kerr, Texas, United States
. . . . . . . . +Harrison Patton Reid-20599
                b: about 1881, , Friars Point, Coahoma Co., MS
                m: 10 March 1926, El Paso, El Paso, Texas, United States
                d: 29 June 1946, , Legion, Kerr Co., TX

. . . . 2-Ada Marie Ricketts-2744
        b: 18 March 1867, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 21 January 1933, Clinton, Indiana, United States

. . . . 2-Charles Wesley Ricketts-2745
        b: 9 October 1869, Clinton, Indiana, United States
        d: 17 September 1948
. . . . +Lulu Bishop-2967
        b: 4 January 1878, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
        m: 10 November 1898, Hamilton, Indiana, United States
        d: 1 June 1970, Tipton, Tipton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Paul Garcia Ricketts-9376
                b: August 1899, Indiana, United States
                d: 1958, Hammond, Tangipahoa, Louisiana, United States
. . . . . . . . +Lydia Rumpf-20577
                b: 30 September 1897, Wisconsin, United States
                m: 10 September 1920, Loranger, Tangipahoa, Louisiana, United States
                d: 1980
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Helen Lucille Ricketts-20578
                        b: 27 November 1920, Loranger, Tangipahoa, Louisiana, United States
                        d: 3 October 2016, Hammond, Tangipahoa, Louisiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Joseph Leroy Ricketts-15730
                b: 14 March 1904, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 10 January 1970
. . . . . . . . +Velma Magdalene White-20590
                b: 9 August 1911, Kempton, Tipton, Indiana, United States
                d: 30 March 2002, Evansville, Vanderburgh, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Barbara Joy Ricketts-20588
                        b: 12 July 1930, Kokomo, Howard, Indiana, United States
                        d: 2012
. . . . . . . . +Marie Chloris Floyd-20589
                b: 28 January 1911, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                m: 28 February 1933, Clinton, Indiana, United States
                d: 10 April 2003
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Charles Earl Ricketts-20591
                        b: 9 December 1933, Johnson Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Robert P. Ricketts-20592
                        b: 30 July 1936, Johnson Township, Clinton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Norma Ricketts-20595
                        b: after 1940
. . . . . . . . . . . . 4-Mary Ricketts-20596
                        b: 26 April 1940, Tipton, Indiana, United States
. . . . . . . . 3-Grace Ricketts-15729
                b: 1906, Indiana, United States
                d:
. . . . . . . . +Terry J Fisher-20576
                b: 5 December 1904, Indiana, United States
                d: 1997

War Photographer

Have you noticed that obituaries often leave out a lot of the information between the dashes? That’s what I’ve found when researching cousins who were career military. When I find an enlistment date and a discharge date about 20 years apart, I want to learn more about that military career.

That’s been the case with Master Sergeant Wayne M. Bond. To fill in those blanks, I often turn to newspapers to see what I can find. That’s when I found that Wayne M. Boyd was an award winning photographer.

Winner of double honors for outstanding photography is M. Sgt. Wayne M. Bond, son of Vernon E. Bond, 2009 East Sixth Street in Tucson.
“Church in the Wildwood” is the title of Sergeant Bond’s prize winning transparency in color. The shot captured first place in the Strategic Air Command’s annual photography contest for 1955. His other entrant in the contest, a black and white print entitled “Jackson Lake” took second in the final judging. Both photos were taken in the Jackson Lake Wyoming area with a 4 x 5 Busch-Pressman camera.
Sgt. Bond, now stationed on Guam, has been in the photo business for “Uncle Sam’s” Air Force since 1946. He has served in western Europe, Africa, India, Persia and Russia, all during World War II. He also worked in the school of photography as an instructor at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado for a period of four years.

“Armed Services,” Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona), 9 March 1956, page 33; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 10 December 2021).

Hoping to learn more about these photographs, I tried Google with no luck. When I returned to my newspapers and broadened the search locations, I found a different version of the story.

Fairchild Reports Snapshot Winners
Winners of the Fairchild air force base photography contest have been annunced at the base Gorden S. Lower recently on a
In order of placement in the black and white division are T/Sgt. Frederick E. Koch (a scene in a German town); T/Sgt. A. J. Marrone (Sunset Hill), M/Sgt. Wayne M. Bond (Jackson, Wyo, lake).
Color transparency winners were M/Sgt Wayne M. Bond (church in the wildwood) and T/Sgt. Albert F. Carpenter (Oriental gates).

“Fairchild Reports Snapshot winners,” Spokane Chronicle (Spokane, Washington), 9 January 1956, page 7; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 10 December 2021).

These articles talk about photography contests in what appears to be two different locations: Strategic Air Command and Fairchild Air Force Base. Having lived in Seneca, Kansas for over 40 years with SAC headquartered in Omaha, I automatically assumed that the Strategic Air Command mentioned in the first article was referencing Omaha. However a Google search turned up a Wikipedia article listing various bases that were “Strategic Air Command“. This list includes Fairchild. Thus, the two articles are likely referring to the same contest held at the Fairchild AFB.

Additional articles indicate that Wayne Bond’s tasks in the military were photography related.

Master Sgt. Wayne M. Bond, a son of Mr. And Mrs. Vernon E. Bond, of 2009 East Sixth street, is now in Tucson on a 30-day furlough after two years in Korea.
Sergeant Bond, who has been in service more than 14 years, was with the second photo squadron which operated in Korea from a base near Tokyo. Many of the pictures made by the group under his charge were used in newsreels and in magazines.
He also distributed more than 800 pounds of clothing collected in Tucson from merchants and members of the First Christian Church, which the family attends. The clothing was distributed in the city hospital in Seoul.
The Bonds are a pioneer Tucson family and one of sergeant’s great-great uncles, Frederick Maish, is a former mayor of this city.

“Armed Services,” Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona), 31 May 1954, page 7; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 10 May 2021).

In November 1952, after the crash of a ‘Flying Boxcar’ Wayne Bond was tasked with photographing the wreckage.

Sgt. Wayne M. Bond, son of Mr. And Mrs. V. E. Bond, of 2009 East Sixth street, was official air force photographer at the scene of the recent “Flying Boxcar” crash which killed 44 men in Korea.

Sergeant Bond wrote to his family that the saddest thing he photographed was a shot of the Christmas gifts being carried by the servicemen passengers on the plane, scattered among the twisted wreckage. Sergeant Bond,, a veteran of 13 years of service in the air force, said he nearly became lost in the wild Korean mountains while searching for one engine of the aircraft, which hurtled clear over the other side of the mountain when the plane crashed.

“In the Armed Services,” Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona), 24 November 1952, page 6; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 10 December 2021).

By looking beyond the areas where I knew Wayne and his family lived, I came across an article about his retirement from military service. This article provides more details about his career in the United States Air Force.

Photo Sergeant Retires After 20-Years Service

After 20 years of military service, which included tours of duty in nine foreign countries, M-Sgt. Wayne M. Bond, NC01C of Photo operations for detachment No. 2, 1352nd motion picture squadron, hung up his Air Force uniform and retired August 31.
Born in Frankfort, Ind. Sgt. Bond graduated from Frankfort High School and attended Purdue University in Lafayette Ind. for two years.
He entered the service in January 1940 and has served in England, France, Germany, Russia, Korea, Japan, Guam, Persia and N. Africa during his military career.
He was assigned to Ent AFB in March 1960 after completing a tour overseas in Yokota, Japan.
A graduate of the USAF Photographic School at Lowery AFB in Denver, Sergeant Bond plans to work as a photographer in Honolulu, Hawaii. While stationed at Ent, he and his wife, Ritsuko, lived at 7 Sierra Grande St., Manitou Springs.

“Photo Sergeant Retires after 20 Years Service,” Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph (Colorado Springs, Colorado), 15 September 1960, page 16; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 10 December 2021).

YouTube has a video slideshow covering the history of Lowry Air Force Base, including the photography school that Wayne Bond attended. The “Photo School” section begins about 14:11.

Military Dates

Have you ever encountered an incorrect enlistment date on a set of military records? Until today, I assumed that the information I would find on Fold3’s U.S. Veterans’ Gravesite database to have an accurate enlistment date.

While researching descendants of John Lewis Ricketts, I came across the Veteran’s Gravesite information for Wayne M. Bond (1919-1966), son of Vernon and Amil (Maish) Bond.

Wayne Bond’s obituary indicated that Wayne retired from the Air Force,

Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
23 May 1966
Page 8

Wayne M. Bond
Frankfort – Wayne M. Bond, 46, Arvada, Colo., former resident of Kirklin and Frankfort, died Friday evening at his home following an illness of three weeks.
The retired Air Force veteran was employed by the U.S. Forestry Service in Colorado at the time of his death.
A 1937 graduate of Frankfort High School, Mr. Bond attended Purdue University and was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
He retired from the Air Force in 1964.
Survivors include his widow, Marry; a son, Peter and a daughter, Peggy, both at home; his mother, Mrs. Amil Bond, Tucson, Ariz., and two sisters, Mrs. Harold Kochert, Rt. 7 and Mrs. Robert Inman, Tucson.
Rites will be Tuesday in Denver.

“Wayne M. Bond,” Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), 23 May 1966, Page 8; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 9 December 2021).

Thus, I started searching for information about his military career. That search turned up a brief article explaining why his parents moved to Arizona. That same 1945 article indicated that Wayne M. Bond had spent 29 months overseas.

To Southwest
Mr. And Mrs. Vern Bond and daughter, Patricia Ann, left Thursday for Tucson, Ariz., to spend the winter for the benefit of Mrs. Bond’s health. Their son, M. Sgt. Wayne M. Bond will join them in Arizona after spending 29 months overseas.

“To Southwest,” Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), 10 August 1945, page 11; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 9 December 2021).

According to the gravesite data, Wayne Bond enlisted in September 1945. However the above August 1945 article refers to him as Master Sergeant and indicates he was overseas for 29 months. Thinking that Wayne Bond must have enlisted prior to 1945, I started search the papers for an earlier article that mentioned his military service. I found one from 1943 that confirms that he was serving in the military at that time.

Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
10 Mar 1943
Page 11

Master Sgt. Wayne M. Bond, who has been spending a short furlough here with his parents. Mr. And Mrs. V. E. Bond, 25 South Hoke avenue, was to leave today for an assignment in Salina, Kans. Until recently he was stationed in Texas. Mr. And Mrs. Bond held “open house” Tuesday afternoon and evening for their son.

A search of papers from Tucson, Arizona generated a wealth of information about Wayne M. Bond’s military service. The most informative article is likely the one about a family reunion held in October 1960.

Re-Union in Pioneer Family .. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon E. Bond, 2009 E. 6th St., had a big open house Sunday afternoon to honor their three children, together for the first time since 1943. The member usually absent has been M. Sgt. Wayne M. Bond, who has been in the Air Force since 1939. St. Bond put in his 21 years in just about every part of the world; he has served in England, France Germany, Russia, Korea, Japan, Guam, Persia and North Africa. A Purdue graduate, Sgt. Bond was the NCO in command of photo operations of a motion picture squadron. Now retired, the sergeant is taking his wife to Honolulu, where they will live and he will work at his trade, photography. The rest of the family are a sister from Frankfort, Ind., Mrs. Harold Kochert, and Arizona alumna sister Patricia Bond Inman who lives here with her husband Robert Inman. The last time the family tried to get together Mrs. Kochert had an automobile accident and didn’t make it. Mrs. Bond senior is Tucson born and is from a pioneer family. Her uncle, Mordecai Maish, owned Canoa Ranch, and was mayor of Tucson in the 90s.

“Reunion in Pioneer Family” Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ) 4 Oct 1960, page 19.

Since this article indicates that Wayne Bond is ‘now retired’ from the military in October, 1960, the article supports the retirement date given by the Veterans’ Gravesites page versus the 1964 date given in the obituary. This reunion article also supports an enlistment date prior to 1945.

An earlier article in 1954 about his visit home from serving during the Korean war provides an enlistment date in 1940.

She Knew He Was Coming — She Baked a Cake
Master Sgt. Wayne M. Bond, home after two years in Korea, was greeted yesterday by his mother, Mrs. V. E. Bond, of 2009 E. Sixth st., with a fine cake. In the air force (except for a month between enlistments) since Jan. 13, 1940, when he left Purdue university, Sgt. Bond is a reconnaissance photographer. Although Indiana was his home, Sgt. Bond is a great-nephew of Arizona pioneer Frederick Maish, early-day mayor of Tucson. He was in Europe during World War II, participating in shuttle flights between England and Russia.

“She Knew He Was Coming – She Baked a Cake” Tucson Daily Citizen (Tucson, AZ) 28 May 1954, page 26

Based on these articles, I’m going to use 13 Jan 1940 as the enlistment date and the August 1960 date as his discharge date for M. Sergeant Wayne M. Bond

Military Jargon

Have your ever run across information from a database that seems to have its own jargon or code? That was my experience when researching Joseph Ogle, a second cousin twice removed on my RICKETTS line.

An Ancestry leaf hint led me to the following information:

Ogle Joseph Alva 024500 B-Ind 17 Apr 16 A-Ind AM Grad C&GS Sch 18 GS C1 44 BS in ME Purdue Univ 39 MS in ME Ga Inst of tech 55 2lt FA Res 10 Jun 39 to Lt Col AUS 30 July 53 RA 2lt FA 20 Feb 42 D/R 20 Feb 42 to Maj 2 July 53 PL 8271

U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985, Joseph Alva Ogle, 2 July 1953; viewed online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

Since I couldn’t interpret all of this, I started searching the source for a key to the abbreviations. Since this database is actually a book, I found the abbreviation key starting on page 8. Thus, I was able to decipher the following abbreviations used in Joseph Ogle’s entry.

• A – Army
• AM – Air Medal
• C&GS Sch – Command and General Staff School
• GS – Gold Star
• Cl – Class
• FA – Field Artillery
• AUS – Army of the United States
• D/R – Date of Rank
• RA – Regular Army
• PL – Promotion List
• Res – Reserve

Wanting to know more about Joseph’s military service, I started searching for other sources to provide more details. Ironically, the BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 gives Joseph’s initial enlistment date of 17 Apr 1917. This record also gives his birth date as 17 Apr 1916 and his death date as 26 February 2003. Since we would all agree that a one year old would not be enlisting in the U.S. Army, it is obvious that the BIRLS data has an error. Thus, a search began for newspaper articles that would help validate the life and career of Joseph Ogle.

The one thing I haven’t found is an obituary. However, I was able to find quite a few articles that mention Joseph Ogle helping to document his military career.

---

Joseph Alva Ogle was born on 17 Apr 1916 in Sheridan, Hamilton, Indiana, United States.^1–5 He was the child of Alva Spencer Ogle and Laura Belle Ricketts.^1–2,6 He lived in Adams Township, Hamilton, Indiana, United States in 1920.⁷ Joseph lived in Marion Township, Boone, Indiana, United States in 1930.⁸ In 1934, he graduated from Sheridan high school in Sheridan.^9–10

He was a student pilot in a national defense program to train airmen in Mar 1939 in Lafayette, Tippecanoe, Indiana, United States.^11–12 In Jun 1939, Joseph received a BS in mechanical engineering at Purdue University.^13–14

He was employed by Cincinnati Milling Machine Company in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States.⁹ He lived in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States in 1940.¹⁵

In Aug 1940 Joseph was an assigned as an assistant to Major Clinton Berrien, professor of military science and tactics at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States.^9,16–18 In Sep 1940 he was a reserve officer at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, United States.¹⁹ He lived in Belton, Bell, Texas, United States on 28 Oct 1942.²⁰

Joseph served in the military as a second lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 1944.²² He was among the 15,000 troops scheduled to arrive in New York on the Queen Mary in Sep 1945.²³

He was on list for promotion to Captain in the U.S. Army in Jul 1948.²⁴ Joseph lived in Honolulu, Hawaii in Feb 1953.²⁵ He was on promotion list to be promoted to Major in the U.S. Army on 22 Jul 1953.¹³

In 1955, he received a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia institute of Technology.^13,26 Joseph Ogle’s master thesis was titled, “Effect of Blade Design in the Louver Type Dust Separator”.

Joseph retired from the U.S. Army as a Lt. Colonel on 30 Jun 1961.⁵ During his service, Joseph Ogle received an Air Medal and a Commendation Medal.

In Jan 1965 he was appointed director of long range government planning for Bendix Corporation in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States.²⁷ In Nov 1966,  he was promoted to director of aerospace systems marketing for Bendix in Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States.²⁸

Joseph lived in Alphine, Texas in 1976.²⁹ In 2001, he lived in San Antonio, Bexar, Texas, United States.³⁰ He died on 26 Feb 2003 at the age of 86.^1,3–4

ENDNOTES:

1. Social Security Administration, “Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007,” database on-line, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901/ : viewed online 4 December 2021), Joseph Alva Ogle.

2. Indiana, Birth Certificates, 1907-1940, Joseph A. Ogle, 17 April 1917; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 December 2021). Original Source: Indiana Archives and Records Administration.

3. Social Security Administration, “U.S. Social Security Death Index,” database, Ancestry, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewewd online 4 December 2021), Joseph A. Ogle, 048-03-4891, before 1951.

4. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010,” database online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 December 2021), Joseph A. Ogle.

5. , U.S. Army Register Volume 1 United States Army Active and Retired List 1964 (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1 January 1964), page 709; digitized copy, Google Books, books.google.com viewed online 4 December 2021.

6. “Engagements and Weddings,” The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio), 5 April 1942, page 61; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

7. 1920 U.S. Census, Hamilton County, Indiana, population schedule, Adams Township, Hamilton County, Indiana, ED 88, Sheet 3A Image 5 of 23, family 62, Spencer Ogle; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 December 2021); NARA microfilm publication T625

8. 1930 U.S. Census, Boone County, Indiana, population schedule, Marion Township, Boone County, Indiana, ED 16-6, Sheet 3B Image 6 of 29, family 73, Spencer Ogle; digital image, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 December 2021); NARA microfilm publication T626

9. “Ogle Is Picked for Duty on Xavier Staff,” The Noblesville Ledger (Noblesville, Indiana), 2 August 1940, page 6; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 5 December 2021).

10. “High School Graduates,” The Noblesville Ledger (Noblesville, Indiana), 17 March 1934, page 4; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 5 December 2021).

11. “3 at Purdue Solo First Under New Air Setup,” The Edinburg Daily Courier (Edinburg, Indiana), 7 March 1939, page 3; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

12. “Flying School at Purdue Is Making Marked Progress,” Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), 4 March 1939, page 1; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 5 December 2021).

13. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985, Joseph Alva Ogle, 2 July 1953; viewed online, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 December 2021). Original Source: United States Military Reigsters, 1909-1985, Salem Oregon, Oregon State Library.

14. “Many Degrees Conferred at Purdue 65th Commencement,” Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), 12 June 1939, page 4; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

15. 1940 U.S. Census, Hamilton County, Ohio, population schedule, Cincinnati, Hamiilton County, Ohio, ED 91-147, Sheet 82B Image 28 of 30, line 46, Joseph A Ogle; digital images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 4 December 2021); NARA microfilm publication T627

16. “On Active Duty,” The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio), 12 August 1940, page 11; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 201).

17. “Military Assignment,” The Tipton Daily Tribune (Tipton, IN), 3 August 1940, page 4; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 5 December 2021).

18. “Reserve Officer Named,” The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio), 30 July 1940, page 20 (main edition); digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

19. “Officer to Assume Post,” 16 Sep 1940, The Cincinnati Enquirer (Cincinnati, Ohio), page 13; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

20. “New Addresses,” The Noblesville Ledger (Noblesville, Indiana), 28 October 1942, page 2; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

22. U.S., Select Military Registers, 1862-1985, Joseph A. Ogle, 1944; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 5 December 21).

23. “Nine Delaware County Vets Arriving HOme,” The Star Press (Muncie, Indiana), 10 September 1945, page 10; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

24. Army Registers, 1798-1969, Joseph Ogle, 1953 vol. 1; database with images, Fold3 (www.fold3.com : viewed online 5 December 2021).

25. “Army Social Notes,” The Honolulu Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii), 8 February 1953, page 41; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 5 December 2021).

26. Georgia Tech Library, Georgia tech Theses and Dissertatins (du/handle/1853/4760 : viewed online 4 December 2021), Joseph A. Ogle.

27. “Business Briefs,” The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), 20 January 1965, page 40; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 5 December 2021).

28. “Personalities in Detroit and Michigan Business,” Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan), 14 November 1966, page 42; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 5 December 2021).

29. “Laura B. Ogle,” The Noblesville Ledger (Noblesville, Indiana), 26 November 1976, page 8; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

30. “George E. Ogle,” The Noblesville Ledger (Noblesville, Indiana), 5 September 2001, page 2; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 4 December 2021).

Patents

Do you ever stumble on information about a cousin thru a simple Google search? Well, that was my situation when researching George A. Buntin, a great great grandson of John Lewis Ricketts making him a 3rd cousin once removed to me.

Besides the normal census and cemetery records, one of the Ancestry hints for him led me to his obituary in Wilmington, Delware’s The News Journal.

George A. Buntin

George A. Buntin, 68, 0f 2302 Marlyn Drive died Tuesday of cancer in Christiana Hospital.

Mr. Buntin was a research chemist at Hercules Inc. for 40 years. He retired in 1962.

He was a member of the American Chemical Society, Limestone Presbyterian Church and Hercules Country Club. He attended the University of Delaware’s Academy of Lifelong Learning and he was especially interested in art. He was a 1941 graduate of Purdue University.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Clegg Buntin, two sons, g. David of Atlanta and Steven A. of Gaithersburg, Md. And a brother, Harold W. of Bowling Green, Ky.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday in Limestone Presbyterian Church, 3201 Limestone Road. Burial will be private.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the American Cancer Society, Wilmington.

“George A. Buntin,” The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware), 2 March 1989, page 24; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 29 November 2021).

Since the obituary named the company he worked for, I did a search of Newspapers.com for his name and the name of the company (George Buntin Hercules). That led me to an article discussing George’s promotion to senior research chemist.

2 Promoted by Hercules

The appointments of George A. Buntin to the position of senior research chemist and Dr. John Floyd as research supervisor at Hercules Powder Company’s Research Center have been announced by Dr. Peter VanWyck, director of the center.

A graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. in chemistry, Mr. Buntin joined Hercules in 1942 as a chemist.

Dr. Floyd, who will be research supervisor in the Virginia cellulose research division, has been a research chemist with Hercules since July, 1955.

“2 Promoted by Hercules,” The News Journal (Wilmington, Delaware), 27 September 1960, page 21; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 2 December 2021).

Since the newspaper didn’t provide much other information about his career, I turned to Google. And that’s where I discovered that George A. Buntin had several patents.

Based on this simple Google search, I then turned to the site, patents.google.com. A search of this site for George Buntin produced 67 results.

Even though the first patent listed on patents.google.com is for ‘lowering serum cholesterol’ the vast majority of the patents involve herbicides and insecticides.

If I hadn’t done the Google search for George and Hercules, I would never have discovered his work to develop some of the chemicals we rely on today.

After drafting this post, The Legal Genealogist published a post about patents. Those interested in finding information on patents should check out her post, Those Other Patents.

Two Wives – Same Name

Have you encountered people of the same name in your genealogy research? If so, have you ever encountered your same name individuals married to the same person?

As I’ve been researching the descendents of John Lewis Ricketts, I found his grandson, Jason G. Ricketts, on the FamilySearch FamilyTree with two wives. The fact that Jason had two wives isn’t unusual. However, these two wives have the same name: Ruth Lindley.

When I encountered these two Ruth Lindley’s, I was just starting to find information on Jason Ricketts. Since I use the FamilySearch Family Tree to help me fill out the families as I start to research them, I was stumped. I didn’t know which Ruth Lindley was the correct one. However, I found some records that identify the parents of Ruth.

One of the first items found was a newspaper article announcing the marriage of Jason Ricketts and Ruth Lindley. This article identifies Ruth’s parents as Mr. and Mrs. John B. Lindley.

Kempton Young People Married
Jason Ricketts and Miss Ruth Lindley, both of Kempton, were united in marriage in Tipton last Tuesday, at the home of Rv. G. D. Foster. The ceremony was witnessed by Mr. and Mrs. Grant Tudor. Mrs. Tudor being and aunt of the bride. The bride is the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Lindley and the groom is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Ricketts, all of Kempton. The newly weds will reside with the groom’s parents for the present. Both the young people are respectably connected and they have a host of friends in the vicinity in which they live.

“Kempton Young People Married,” The Tipton Daily Tribune (Tipton, IN), 18 June 1915, page 8; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 27 November 2021).

Even though the marriage announcement identifies the parents, I don’t feel it provides enough evidence to eliminate one of the Ruths. That’s because the FS tree shows John H. Lindley as the father of one and John B. Lindley as the father of the other.

Thus, the search continued. Thankfully, there are some other records readily available on Ancestry that help identify the parents. The first is a database record for Indiana marriages that lists the parents of Ruth.

Name: Ruth Lindley
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 24
Event Type: Marriage Registration (Marriage)
Birth Date: 20 May 1891
Birth Place: Tipton, Indiana
Marriage Date: 15 Jun 1915
Marriage Place: Indiana, United States
Residence Place: Kempton, Indiana
Father: John Braxton Lindley
Mother: Hester Ann Pickerell
Spouse: Jason G Ricketts
Page: 3
FHL Film Number: 002315335

“Indiana, Marriages, 1810-2001,” database, Ancestry, (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 28 November 2021), Jason G Ricketts.

Since Ruth LIndley Ricketts died in Indiana, there is a death certificate for her on Ancestry. And, that death certificate also identifies her parents as John and Hester Lindley.

Name: Roth L Ricketts
[Roth L Lindley]
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age: 75
Marital status: Widowed
Birth Date: 20 May 1891
Birth Place: Indiana
Death Date: 23 Feb 1967
Death Place: Anderson, Madison, Indiana, USA
Father: John Lindley
Mother: Hester Lindley

Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011, Ruth L. Ricketts, 23 February 1967; database with images, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : viewed online 27 November 2021).

For my purposes, I am accepting Ruth G. Lindley, daughter of John and Hester Lindley as the wife of Jason Ricketts. Since I am NOT a descendant of Jason and Ruth Ricketts, I am not comfortable removing the other Ruth Lindley as a wife of Jason Ricketts on FamilySearch.

Even though I’m uncomfortable with removing Ruth, daughter of John and Miranda, I did the following:

• Added the source for the newspaper marriage announcement to the family of Jason Ricketts and Ruth G. Lindley.
• Uploaded a screenshot of the marriage announcement to the Memories for both Jason Ricketts and Ruth G. Lindley.
• Added the source for the Indiana death certificate to Ruth G. Lindley
• Uploaded the image of the death certificate to Ruth G. Lindley
• Added a discussion to Jason Ricketts about the parents of his wife.
• Contacted the individual who added Ruth G. Lindley as a spouse to make them aware of the sources and images I’ve added.

Flying Farmer

Do you ever find an organization mentioned in an obituary that you had not heard of before? That was my situation when transcribing the obituary of Joseph L. Ricketts who died in January, 1970.

Joseph’s obituary mentions that he was a member of the Flying Farmers.

Joseph L. Ricketts

Mesa – Services for Joseph L. Ricketts, 65, a member of the Flying Farmers and former employe of the Mesa School district, will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow in Larry J. Melcher Mortuary, 43 S. Stapley. Burial will be in Mountain View Cemetery.

Mr. Ricketts, 202 N. 65^th St., was killed n an auto accident here Saturday. Born in Clinton County, Ind., he came to mesa in 1953.

Survivors include his wife, Marie; two sons, Charles of Albuquerque and Robert of villa Park, Ill.; three daughters, Mrs. Norma Hunter of Harbor City, Calif., Mrs. Mary Martin of Scottsdale and Mrs. Barbara Beck of Evansville, Ind.; his mother, Mrs. Lulu Ricketts of Tipton, Ind.; a sister in Indiana and nine grandchildren. The family suggests contributions to Central Christian Church where he was a member.

“Joseph L. Ricketts,” Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona), 13 January 1970, page 32; digital image, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 26 November 2021).

Without knowing anything about the Flying Farmers organization, I believe these two words tell me that Joseph Ricketts

• likely had a pilot’s license
• likely owned or co-owned an airplane

So far, I haven’t found any records of Joseph Ricketts’ having a pilot’s license or owning an airplane. Nor, have I found information regarding his involvement in the Flying Farmers organization.

However, I have discovered that the Flying Farmers organization has a rich history dating back to 1944.

• Arizona’s Flying Farmers and the History of the International Flying Farmers
• The First U.S. Federal Pilot License
• An Airplane in Every Barn
• Okie Legacy: Trick of the Trade & Flying Farmers of the 1940s
• Stories from Chandler Airport: Norman Knox – Pilot and Flying Farmer Member
• Flying Farmers: 40 Acres and a Plane
• Unique Perspective of Farmland from Above
• International Flying Farmers: History

Ricketts Will

Do you research your distant cousins? If so, have you ever found a will for one of them in the newspaper?

While researching the descendants of my 3rd great grandfather, John Lewis Ricketts, I just stumbled across a mention of a will for his son, Charles Wesley Ricketts in the 24 September 1948 issue of Lafayette Indiana’s Journal and Courier newspaper. The article names the heirs and tells how the property was to be dividded.

Ricketts Estate

Grace E. Fisher, Hammond and Joseph L. Ricketts filed a $20,000 bond yesterday in the Circuit court as joint executor of the estate of their father, Charles w. Ricketts. Heirs named in a will drawn Sept. 20, 1946, are Lulu Ricketts, widow; Paul G. Ricketts Hammond, La., son; Grace E. Fisher, daughter, Hammond and Joseph L. Ricketts, Frankfort. By the terms of the will all the household property, the auto and $500 in cash are given the widow in fee simple. The remainder of the property including real estate and farms is given to the three children, share and share alike, but to be held in trust only by the children during the lifetime of their mother who is to have the profits from the real estate. At the death of the widow, the children are to have equal shares in the remainder of the estate.

“Ricketts Estate,” Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), 24 September 1948, page 6; digital images, Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com : viewed online 26 November 2021).

For me, finding this will was a good reminder that newspapers carry a wide variety of family information.